Tod Williams biography

Tod Williams grew up in New York City, the son of a dancer mother and an architect father. He showed an early talent for writing and art and went on to study painting and literature at Bard College and Columbia University. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked for the L.A. bureau of the New York Times and studied filmmaking at the American Film Institute.

In 1997 he wrote and directed his first film, The Adventures of Sebastian Cole. It debuted at the Toronto Film Festival and was immediately picked up for distribution by Paramount. It then screened at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. Shown in limited release, it made over $100,000 in box office receipts.

Sometimes called by his nickname, Kip, Williams lives in New York City. He became engaged to actress Gretchen Mol in 2004. His first marriage, to Dutch actress/model Famke Janssen (of X-Men fame) lasted just five years, from 1995 to 2000.